"Addiction developed instantly"

Stephanie Pratt's stint in rehab was alluded to several times on the show, but she goes into new detail in her autobiography, Made In Reality, revealing that she actually became addicted to crystal meth as a teenager.

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She had soon developed a shocking habit - taking cocaine and smoking meth several times a day. "I was 14 or 15 [when I first smoked crystal meth]… I was on the extreme level and addiction developed instantly. [I smoked] probably four times before school, then at snack… probably 12 or 13 times a day."

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In the extract, published in this week's issue of New!, she then goes on to describe the dangerous way she was living while addicted, often driving while under the influence of drugs. Stephanie says she then fell into a deep depression: "I didn't care about anything. I could live or die, I didn't care. I had nothing to get out of bed for, nothing was exciting."

Things came to a head in 2006, when she was arrested for attempting to steal $4,000 worth of designer clothes from a shop in Hawaii while on drugs. This was just months before Stephanie started working on The Hills. "I woke up handcuffed to a hospital bed. When I landed back in LA, Mum took me back home and I went upstairs to my old bedroom and I felt so much shame."

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Afterwards, Stephanie checked into rehab and from that point on, she says The Hills marked a turning point for her. She made an effort to stay sober, but then began struggling with bulimia. By 2009, she weighed just 105 lbs, which is around 7 and a half stone or 47 KG. "I lost about six pounds in two weeks, but bulimia made my face very puffy, so I freaked out and began going on crazy little diets. I'd only eat Tic Tacs."

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Speaking to Us Weekly back in 2009, Steph explained how hard she found it not to compare herself to her cast mates. "I was horrified. I remember saying, 'I can't believe how huge I look walking over to Lauren.'" She said that "the producers never put pressure on us to lose weight" but explained that she found it "embarrassing working with skinny girls."

Stephanie later said to MTV: "The Hills did not make me bulimic. It was my own issues with self-esteem, and if anything, my life on The Hills has only helped me get healthy, 'cause I know how lucky I am to have this job and to have the chance to be a role model."

Luckily, Steph says she now has a much more positive attitude towards her body and lives a happier, healthier life.

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